The birds at the zoo have been tested and are awaiting results.
Saskatoon Zoo Business Director Jeff Mitchell said none of the zoo birds have been affected so far.
“We are pretty sure we caught the birds in time before we got that far,” Mitchell said.
The Ministry of Agriculture reminds citizens to keep their poultry flocks away from wild birds to reduce the spread of bird flu. (Philippe Huguen / AFP / Getty Images)
Mitchell first heard about bird flu affecting birds south of the border just two months ago. The Saskatoon Zoo began planning for bird flu about a month ago if it reached the county.
“Our biggest thing, obviously, is to bring our birds indoors so that there is no contact with wild birds,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell says the Saskatoon Zoo will not be comfortable exposing the birds until 90 days after the last positive test in the county.
This means that the birds will not be visible for most – if not all – of the summer.
Some of these birds include the bald eagle, the snowy owl, the red-tailed hawk, the owl and the great horned owl.
In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture reminded poultry producers to follow the necessary protocols to keep their flocks free of disease.
The HPAI strain of bird flu found in a wild bird in Saskatchewan earlier this week resulted in the deaths of many geese, Canadian geese and other wild birds.
Trevor Herriot, a naturalist and bird expert, urges people to keep their yard birds away from wild geese.
Herriot says people need to make sure they take the right precautions when interacting with dead or sick birds.
“If there are carcasses around, be careful if you intend to clean them and you just do not want to transmit this pathogen to your own laying hens or other barn birds,” Herriot said.
The risk of transmission to humans is considered low, but people are warned not to touch dead birds or wildlife with their bare hands.
title: “Saskatoon Zoo Takes Precautions Amid Avian Flu Detection In Sask. " ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-27” author: “Daniel Ramirez”
The birds at the zoo have been tested and are awaiting results.
Saskatoon Zoo Business Director Jeff Mitchell said none of the zoo birds have been affected so far.
“We are pretty sure we caught the birds in time before we got that far,” Mitchell said.
The Ministry of Agriculture reminds citizens to keep their poultry flocks away from wild birds to reduce the spread of bird flu. (Philippe Huguen / AFP / Getty Images)
Mitchell first heard about bird flu affecting birds south of the border just two months ago. The Saskatoon Zoo began planning for bird flu about a month ago if it reached the county.
“Our biggest thing, obviously, is to bring our birds indoors so that there is no contact with wild birds,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell says the Saskatoon Zoo will not be comfortable exposing the birds until 90 days after the last positive test in the county.
This means that the birds will not be visible for most – if not all – of the summer.
Some of these birds include the bald eagle, the snowy owl, the red-tailed hawk, the owl and the great horned owl.
In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture reminded poultry producers to follow the necessary protocols to keep their flocks free of disease.
The HPAI strain of bird flu found in a wild bird in Saskatchewan earlier this week resulted in the deaths of many geese, Canadian geese and other wild birds.
Trevor Herriot, a naturalist and bird expert, urges people to keep their yard birds away from wild geese.
Herriot says people need to make sure they take the right precautions when interacting with dead or sick birds.
“If there are carcasses around, be careful if you intend to clean them and you just do not want to transmit this pathogen to your own laying hens or other barn birds,” Herriot said.
The risk of transmission to humans is considered low, but people are warned not to touch dead birds or wildlife with their bare hands.
